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French Cartographic Journey to India
French Cartographic Journey to India
An exhibition by Kalakriti Archives

Explore India through the perspective of French Cartographers. A selection of rare maps from the collection of Kalakriti Archives, curated by Supriya Lahoti Gandhi & Prshant Lahoti.

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This exhibition aims to bring forth French interaction with the Indian subcontinent during the 17th- 19th centuries. Maps served as tools for traders and merchants under sail, military instruments and valuable blueprints and archives of city planning. They had an increasingly important role to play in the development of European rivalries and their realization of imperial ambitions in the subcontinent. Early cartographical maps of India have a focus on trade routes, ports and waterways. A changing perspective is observed as the Companies established settlements and political influence.

The French set up their first factories in the Indian subcontinent in the 17th century and soon became formidable players in the siege of power in the 18th century. The French started producing maps with the most cartographical accuracy at the time.

Maps from pioneering French cartographers such as Guillaume Delisle, Phillipe Buache, Joseph Tiefenthaler and Anquetil-Duperron among others will be showcased. The war theatre maps give a visual to the landmark battles between the French allied forces and English allied forces in the 18th century. These are important records of the European ramifications in the subcontinent, with detailed sites and progression of the battles. Furthermore, French maps of the cities of Pondichéry, Karikal, Yanaon, Mahé and Chandernagor will be explored, and changes will be traced through the centuries.

Indian Cartography

Event Calendar

Inauguration: June 2, 6.30 pm | Entry by registration (Click here to register)

Exhibition on view: June 3 to June 20
Timing: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm

Venue: HICC – Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre


How to join?

◉ Exhibition on view is open to all
◉ COVID protocol

Image © Kalakriti Art Gallery

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